Improvement in trusses



J. R. ALEXANDER.

' Truss.

No. 212,344. .Patented Feb. 18,1879.l

UNITEE STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

JOHN R. ALEXANDER, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

vIMPROVEM ENT IN TRUSSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 212,344, dated February18, 1879; application ilcd July 26, l1878.

To all lwhom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, JOHN R. ALEXANDER, of the city of Montreal, Provinceof Quebec', Dominion of Canada, have invented a new` and usefulImprovement in Trusses; and I hereby declare that thefollowin g is afull, clear, and exact description of my invention, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is, rst, to attach to the pads of a truss aportable and adjustablepressure-plate, which is so constructed as tosupport and constantly press the pads inward and upward without the useof supportingstraps, so inconvenient and annoying to the wearer oftrusses; secondly, to provide for a hollow hinge, whereby the ends ofthe truss-band are prevented from bending up and striking into andgetting entangled in the wearers clothes.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of my improvedtruss. Fig. 2 is a plan View. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on linema: of Fig. 2. Fig. et is a detached view of the plate. Fig. 5 is asectional view taken on line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detached plansectional view of the hinge. Fig. 7 is an end view of the hinge.

A is the supportin g-band, constructed of two pieces, aand al. The rearends, a2 a3, of this band are inserted into the hollow ends, b bl, ofthe hinge B, and held therein by the setscrews l2 b3.

The object in fastening the end in this manner is to allow the band tobe shortened and lengthened, according to the size ofthe wearer.

The object of making the ends of the hinge hollow is, first, to allowthe ends a2 as of the band A to be adjusted, as hereinbefore stated 5secondly, to prevent the ends of the hinge from bending up and strikinginto the wearers clothes.

The front ends, a4 a5, of the band A are held together by the clasp E,which consists of the two hollow ends or guide-pieces c c,which are heldtogether by the side pieces, c2 cf. In the center, between the innerends, o5 c6, of the hollow guide c cl, is placed the movablespring-catch c7, which is habitually forced-upward by the spring c. Thiscatch is provided with two projections or prongs, cf ci", at its outerends, which enter corresponding slots or notches a6 al in the ends a4 a5of the band A. By this arrangement either ends of the band can bedetached.

D is the pad, made of metal and semicircular in shape. It is madehollow, and provided with a hole, d, through which enters the stem oraxle d', on the end of which the pad is held by the pin d2, which allowsthe pad to move in any direction. This axle Z1 is fastened to the bandal at a". To the under side of the pad is fastened by a screw, d4,tl1cplate E, shaped as shownin Figs. 1 and 4. Around the inner edge of thisplate is a number of holes, e e, by which the said plate can beadjusted.

The pad D and plate E are habitually forced inward by aid of the springF. The object of this plate is to hold the pad D in place. When the padis placed on any ruptured spot, the upper part of the plate E is forcedoutward by coming in contact with the abdomen, thus causing the pad tobe pressed inward and upward and flrlnly held in place without the aidof straps or any other supports.

The band A is covered with any suitable covering to prevent it fromdoing injury to the wearer.

I am aware of the patent granted to Edward A. Campbell, No. 175,029,March 21, 1876, and therefore do not wish to be understood as broadlyclaiming the pressure-plate E.

I am also aware of the patent granted to me June 19, 1877, No. 192,141,and therefore do not wish to be understood as here broadly claiming theinsertion of the free ends of a truss-band into a hollowconnecting-piece.

Having thus described my invention, I desire to claim--v 1. The portableadjustable pressure-plate E, constructed as shown, and provided withholes e c, in combination with the pad D and. spring F, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

2. The hollow endsb b of the hinge B, with set-screws b2 b3, incombination with the ends ea of the bands A, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

This specification signed this the 9th day of July, 1878.

J. n. ALEXANDER.'

Vitnesses: GEORGE R. W. KrTTsoN HECTOR MUNRO.

